Ford 150 OD Transmission install in 31 Roadster

[AL in NY]

Here's a more readable version of the chart I posted:

[old31]

As mentioned, I would report my findings when it is completed. The Dave Delmue's kit is completed.

Carl is right on the money with this one.

All I can say is wow, wow,wow. Oh, did I say wow?

The fit of all of Dave's parts was tremendous. He thought of everything, made it easy, just the way a kit should be. The only part I had to work with to fit was the clutch adjusting arm and trunion. I had to move it over 5/16's to line up between my clutch pedal and Daves trans. Not a big deal.

The trans make it possible to keep up with any traffic because you are able to take off quick and keep moving quickly. It is great taking off from a light with cars behind you. As fast as you want to shift, you can shift. As fast as you want to downshift at any speed in any of the 4 gears, you can downshift.

I have not taken it on the highway yet and I cant wait.

When you look under the car everything looks original. You really have to go looking to see a little larger trans underneath.

Questions:
For those of you who know the transmission. How do you change the oil without a drain plug. Why in the world didn't Ford install one, I don't get it.

How often are you suppose to change the oil?

Second gear is not as smooth to get into as the others. Maybe it will break in, is there a way to make an easy adjustment?

[Corley]

Just curious here, when installing the F150 rts transmission, if one goes with an open drive shaft. 1) If using the car (A) bell housing, how much of the inverted U shaped cross member has to be chopped? 2) Likewise, if using an (AA) truck bell housing, does the inverted U cross member have to be cut at all?

Note, both questions assume a) an open driveshaft, and b) the stock f150 rts output shaft and output housing. Alternatively, how long is the rts transmission, and maybe I can just measure this for interference with the cross member.

Thanks in advance

[duke36]

Like Carl, I have Delmue's tranny approx. 20 years old. Very nice set up. Glad they are still available. The input shaft is different from a stock A (on ours) requiring a clutch disk to fit the number of splines. It's suggested not to over fill the tranny box to minimize any seepage out the rear at the clam shells. Also, make sure there is a good thin stiff rubber pad on top of the cross member at the rear support angle as the tranny weighs in approx 2x the A box.

[old31]

Daves kit includes a rubber pad for the x member.

How do you change oil in this trans, it does not have a drain plug.

[AL in NY]

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old31: you'll never have to change the oil in that transmission. You should not be have shifting problems going into 2nd gear unless the transmission wasn't properly rebuilt by Dave Delmue. There is no adjustment for smoother shifting inside the transmission. Only thing it can be is a worn 1st-2nd syncro.

[CarlG]

Al,
The transmission one gets from Dave is essentially a new transmission. He uses a used RTS case, but the innards are top quality gears and new synchros. He has built over 175 of these over the years, and if any of the others are like mine, they are top notch. They all take a bit of running to get everything to settle in, but that should be all smooth sailing from then on.

[old31]

Carl I am sure you are correct.

I only have 50 miles of driving so far.

First, third and 4th are real slick to get in and out of, second is just a tiny bit notchy or sticky to get in to.

[AL in NY]

Carl: unless Dave Delume manufactures the gears himself, the "innards" are not new. You can buy the new seals, bearings and synchros. I know from experience that the cluster gears are not available and only a couple of the other gears can be found new. A USED cluster gear will cost you $200-$300 alone. If he could find new gears, he couldn't afford to put them in the transmissions he includes in his kits and sell it for $2500-$3000.

[old31]

Follow up:

I have about 800 miles with the new trans and I could not be any happier with Dave Delmues stuff. The second gear notchy feel seams to be getting a little smoother.

Today I went on a 140 mile highway trip between 55-60 mph all the way and no issues.

[duke36]

Question on F150 tranny fluid change for Delmue conversion: we recently used 80-90w non synthetic gear lube after using a suction gun with flexible clear plastic hose at the fill hole . The old fluid removed was not ATF.

[kenparker]

The original Ford manual for the F150 RTS and its predessor the RUG recommends 80-90 wt Gear oil. I have one of the ,manuals.

[old31]

I asked Dave about changing the oil because the trans does not have a drain plug.

His answer was you do not change the oil.

That sure sounds odd to me.

What are you guys doing about f150 oil changes, if you do.

[harryc]

Try --Valley Machine Shop---Bakersfield. Their website shows what they offer

[rotorwrench]

The design forces the lube to be drawn out with a suction gun or some other form of pump. There is no such thing as a transmission that needs no regular lubrication service. Lubricant breaks down over time. Ford recommended standard transmission lubricant (SAE 80W) D8DZ-19C547-A (ESP-M2C83-C) in their manual. It's capacity is 3.5 pints or 1.7 liters.

[CarlG]

Dave never said "don't change the oil". What he did say is that Ford did not install a drain plug, and to drain it, you must suck it out the drain plug. He also recommended a full synthetic oil, Redline (or equivalent) 75-85, 85-90. Nothing heavier than 90.

Redline is not readily available where I live, so I have Lucas Synthetic 75W-90 in my transmission. I do check it at least once every season (about 3,000 miles) and have never had to add any, and it is still in good shape.

Someone above mentioned ATF. That is Automatic Transmission Fluid, and should NOT be used in this "manual" transmission.

[rotorwrench]

Some manual transmissions use ATF but the one in question doesn't. I was referring more to post #84 on the regular service. These old TODs aren't bad units but no one makes the gears or other hard parts. The folks that offer conversion transmissions have to hoard parts. At some point, it will get harder to find parts unless some manufacturer steps up. The Tremec plant in Mexico hasn't produced parts for them since the contract for them ended which was likely back in the 90s. Early 1987 was the last production year for Ford pickups that used them. I look for overdrive gears and clusters but they don't show up at all. Transmissions are still out there but a person has to scour the salvage yards to find them.

[AL in NY]

rotorwrench: there is an online used parts search the works very well for me. It's "car-parts.com", a real time saver.

[duke36]

Originally Posted by old31

I am looking to install Ford RTS 150 4 speed trans with a 41% OD.

Car is a 31 Deluxe Roadster with Snyder 5.5 head, enlarged intakes, new motor, B grind cam, FSI Zipper distributor and 4:11 rear end.

I would appreciate it if the people that make the complete 150 kits PM me with your kit info, or reply to this post so others could have the same information.

I have read everything I can from the Barn, Hamb, Mitchell, Volvo, etc.

Be advised that the FS zipper may be a bearing knock issue due to advanced timing with the higher compression head on hills. Search the threads for a discussion about this.

[old31]

What do you think of installing a drain plug on the bottom of the F150? Has anyone done it?

It would beat sucking it out and it would drain 100% of the oil.